This glacier bleeds! Scientists reveal the mystery that turns water into blood

Glaciers are supposed to be icy, white and sparkling, aren’t they? Well, this one looks ominous and bleeds severely! Find out what causes such an amazing thing to happen to a glacier. 

These photos really look like a huge crime scene. Was a giant killed here? Surely not, but it’s one of nature’s secrets. They call it the Blood Falls. It’s found in Antarctica in the Taylor Valley.

Salty water colored red flows from underneath the white snow and ice of the glacier. The scientists say such an abnormal color was created over 5 million years ago. Part of the salty water was trapped inside the glacier. It had no contact with oxygen or sunlight. It got three times saltier than the ocean water, so naturally, it could not freeze.

Now the small cracks appeared in the glacier and the ancient water started leaking out. It does not have the red hue on its own, but when it contacts the oxygen, the color changes. A guy from Australia discovered this phenomenon back in 1911. Just imagine what he felt, when he saw this!

Microorganisms are found in the water, and scientists suspect those underground lakes are much larger than they initially thought. It’s a whole hidden ecosystem. Who knows what mysteries it hides?

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